Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force

The Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force (GMACF) is the county cadet force for Greater Manchester, which forms part of the wider Army Cadet Force, a youth organisation in the United Kingdom that offers learning and experiences around a military training theme. It is home to between 1400-1750 cadets and 200-230 adult volunteers in 45-47 detachments.[2][3]

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force
Activebefore November 1974[1]–present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeRegistered Volunteer Youth Organisation
RoleTo provide pre-training and experience of life in the British Army
SizeCounty
Part ofHeadquarters North West
County HQManchester
WebsiteGreater Manchester ACF
Insignia
Army Cadet Force Badge

History

In 1863, along with the formation of the Volunteer Force, the first government sanctioned cadet groups were allowed to be formed. These groups would mostly be formed in connection with existing volunteer companies and battalions. Following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 which organised the former Volunteer Force into a coherent organisation, known as the Territorial Force (TF), the cadets were expanded. Each company consisted of no less than 30 cadets, and four of these companies formed a "Cadet Battalion", the predecessors to the modern "Cadet County".[4]

Unlike their modern successors, the first cadet battalions were administered by their local County Territorial Force Associations, and rarely ever came under an "army command". However, following changes to the organisation of the Cadets, in 1923 all cadet forces were taken under complete control of the County Associations.[4]

The first mention of the modern Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force appears in the 19th November 1974 edition of the London Gazette.[1]

Organisation

The organisation of the Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force is as follows in 2021:[5]

Detachment Location Area Postcode Company Affiliated Regiment
Radcliffe ACF Knowles Street, Radcliffe M26 4DR 1 Minden FUSILIERS
Crumpsall ACF 2A Middleton Road, Crumpsall M8 5DS 1 Minde FUSILIERS
Belle Vue ACF Belle Vue St Belle Vue M12 5PW RA
Levenshulme ACF Osbourne Road Levenshulme M19 2DT 3 Somme LANCS
Rusholme ACF Norman Road Rusholme M14 5LH 3 Somme R SIGNALS
Rochdale ACF Norman Road Rochdale OL11 4HS 1 Minden FUSILIERS
Heywood ACF Bamford Road, Heywood OL10 4TF 1 Minden FUSILIERS
Middleton ACF Ashton Lane Wince Brook M24 1BN 1 Minden FUSILIERS
Bury ACF Castle Street, Bury BL9 0LB 1 Minden FUSILIERS
GMACF Corps of Drums Castle Street, Bury BL9 0LB All All
Ramsbottom ACF Spenleach Lane Hawkshaw BL8 4JJ 1 Minden FUSILIERS
Oldham ACF Rifle Street Oldham OL1 3DN 2 Kohima RTR
Stalybridge ACF Off 107 Wakefield Rod Stalybridge SK15 1AD 2 Kohima MERCIAN
Manchester Academy Moss Lane East Manchester M14 4PX 1 Minden AGC (SPS)
Hyde ACF 29 Commercial Street Hyde SK14 2JD 3 Somme MERCIAN
Royton ACF Hillside Avenue Royton OL2 6RE 2 Kohima REME
Stockport ACF Greek St Stockport SK3 8AB 3 Somme MERCIAN
Cheadle Hulme ACF Oak St Cheadle Hulme SK8 5DR 3 Somme MERCIAN
Bredbury ACF Goyt Valley Rd Bredbury SK6 2JU 3 Somme MERCIAN
Reddish ACF Reddish Rd Reddish SK5 7JG 3 Somme MERCIAN
Sale ACF Walton Rd Sale M33 4DR 4 Korea MERCIAN
Flixton ACF Pennybridge Ln Flixton M41 5DX 4 Korea RLC
Streford ACF Kings Road (207 Field Hospital) Stretford M16 7RS 4 Korea FUSILIERS
Salford ACF Haldane Rd Salford M50 2TR 4 Korea RLC
Clifton ACF Manchester Rd Clifton M27 6TA 4 Korea REME
Collyhurst ACF Manchester Communication Academy Harpurhey M40 8NT 1 Minden FUSILIERS
Tyldesley ACF Factory St Tyldesley M29 2GQ 5 Anzio KRH
Wigan GREN GDS Canal Street Wigan WN6 7NQ 5 Anzio GREN GDS
Wigan QOY Canal Street Wigan WN6 7NQ 5 Anzio QOY
Hindley ACF Lord Street Hindley WN2 3EW 5 Anzio KRH
Leigh ACF Leigh Rd Leigh WN7 1QY 5 Anzio KRH
Failsworth ACF Oldham Rd Failsworth M35 0BH 2 Kohima RE
Bolton LANCS Nelson St Bolton BL3 2AH 5 Anzio LANCS
Bolton RA Nelson St Bolton BL3 2AH 5 Anzio RA
Eccles ACF Hampden Grove Patricroft M30 0QU 4 Korea RLC
Chadderton ACF Newman RC College Oldham OL9 9QY 4 Korea RAMC
GMACF County HQ Spenleach Lane Hawkshaw BL8 4JJ All All
Broughton ACF Gordon St Broughton M7 1RZ GREN GDS

ACF Mission

The Army Cadet Force is a national, voluntary, uniformed youth organisation. It is sponsored by the British Army but not part of it and neither the cadets nor the adult volunteer leaders are subject to military call-up.  They offer a broad range of challenging adventurous and educational activities, some of them on a military theme. Their aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in life and develop in them the qualities of a good citizen.

The ACF can be compared to their counterparts in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (USA), Hong Kong Adventure Corps, and Canadian Army Cadets, amongst others.

See also

References
  1. "No. 46403". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 November 1974. p. 11383.
  2. "Greater Manchester ACF | Army Cadet Force". Armycadets.com. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  3. "What is the Army Cadet Force? | The Official GMACF Blog". Armycadetsgreatermanchester.wordpress.com. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  4. Westlake 1984, pp. 1–3
  5. "GMACF Locations".

53.6395°N 2.3591°W / 53.6395; -2.3591

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